Page 45 of The Accidental Dragon Baby

Ivo’s smile turned soft, and Ace’s heart skipped a beat.

“She’s adorable,” Ace said softly.

“She really is,” Ivo agreed. Even when Mary grabbed his nose and tried to reach Ace with her other paw, protesting loudly when she couldn’t catch him.

Ace gave her a finger to grab. Mary clung onto it, then began to gnaw on his fingertip.

“Mary,” Ivo squawked.

“It’s okay. It’s practice, right? For our baby.”

And now Ivo was as red as a tomato. Ace sneaked a quick kiss onto his forehead, before slipping out of the backseat and behind the wheel.

Ivo was pregnant. With hisbaby.

A tiny bubble of excitement fizzed in his gut. Ace hummed and drove out of the parking lot, turning them toward home.

A sudden thought struck him. His heart stopped; he met Ivo’s eye in the rearview mirror. “You’re carrying our baby to term, right?”

“Yes!” Ivo frowned. “Did you think I wouldn’t?”

“It’s your body. I can’t force you to make that decision.” Ace chewed his lip. “Although I could make some very persuasive arguments.”

Ivo tried to frown, but the corners of his lips twitched up. “I’m keeping the baby. I kept Mary, didn’t I? She was a surprise, too.”

“I would’ve reminded you to be careful during your heat, but... seeing as it’s my baby, I can’t say I mind.”

Ivo blushed. “Me, neither.”

Oh, Ace wanted to keep him and never let him go.

He checked his mirrors the entire drive home, taking several detours to make sure no one was following them. It was only when they’d crossed the wards surrounding his property, that he managed to relax. “Finally home.”

Ivo peered around, his forehead wrinkling. “Do you think Harvey and our cart will make it back okay?”

“Yes. Neither of them is particularly rare; Harvey will be careful, too.”

“Good.” Ivo looked so relieved—over a butler and a shopping cart—that Ace’s heart swelled.

He parked in the middle of the driveway and carried Ivo and Mary bridal-style across the grass, to where they had built their nests. “I’m going to put you in my nest,” Ace growled. “You belong there.”

Ivo blushed. “But where would you sleep?”

“Outside the nest. I’ll build a larger one. Although I’m terrible at weaving twigs.”

Ivo studied his grass nest, which was just half-built. Ace went around collecting all the abandoned blankets, bringing them back to his larger nest. When he tried piling them all inside, the pillows and blankets spilled back out.

“I think your nest might be too small,” Ivo said in wonder.

“We need a bigger nest,” Ace said solemnly. “You should use this one. I’ll get started on the one I have in mind.”

Ace’s new nest would be the last nest they would ever need—large enough for several dragonets, both adults, and enough pillows to resemble a ball pit.

The more Ace imagined Ivo’s reaction to that nest, the more intense his excitement grew.

Ivo would like a huge nest... right?

Ace made sure his guests were settled in. Then he hurried over to the house and popped into the kitchen, cooking up a quick breakfast—fried eggs and bacon on toast, but this time with a handful of spicy peppers.

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